Ventral posterior medial nucleus

Ventral Posterior Medial Nucleus is a nucleus in the thalamus. It is a part of the ventral posterior nucleus (VPN) which is a relay station in the somatosensory system. The ventral posterior medial nucleus receives sensory information from the face and oral cavity.

Anatomy

The ventral posterior medial nucleus is located in the thalamus, which is a large mass of gray matter located in the diencephalon of the brain. It is part of the larger ventral posterior nucleus, which also includes the ventral posterior lateral nucleus (VPL).

Function

The ventral posterior medial nucleus is primarily involved in the sensory perception of the face and oral cavity. It receives information from the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for sensation in the face, and the glossopharyngeal nerve, which is responsible for sensation in the throat and back of the tongue.

The information received by the ventral posterior medial nucleus is then relayed to the primary somatosensory cortex, where it is processed and interpreted.

Clinical significance

Damage to the ventral posterior medial nucleus can result in a loss of sensation in the face and oral cavity. This can occur as a result of a stroke, tumor, or other neurological conditions.

See also

• Thalamus
• Ventral posterior nucleus
• Trigeminal nerve
• Glossopharyngeal nerve

References

Ventral posterior medial nucleus Resources
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